Beta is part of the development cycle. Plus, calling them beta testers is misleading as the project is probably in alpha, and releasing an alpha version to testers is possible. Most regular games take 6 months + to QA, I wouldn't be surprised if a huge game like flight sim takes a year at least.

I am a network systems analyst--I know the term and its use and the dev cycle. You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned alpha testing however--we reserve the term "beta" for post freeze testing, and alpha for pre freeze testing. At the point where we freeze, no new features are allowed in our software, although fixes caught during beta obviously are included. I don't believe the next version of MSFS is in alpha yet or even close--not given Microsoft's recent survey and the common sense in waiting until the newer technology under way is available.I just don't lend credibility to reports that take place outside of press releases when a public company is involved. We go through it every dang MSFS cycle--"leaks", people in the "know" and so on. My point is any of the items mentioned in the Just Flight forum post (not having read the magazine since I won't fall for that bait) can be considered educated "guesses" based on past work for MSFS. Except for the Helicopters and Microlights item--still chuckling over that one.-John

Well, OK...RH

Thank goodness for edit mode! My first reply to your post was somewhat different.I agree, it is both a game and a simulation. That is why it is called, "Flight Simulator", and you find it at stores that sell PC games.MS is not stupid. They know that a few hundred thousand, perhaps a couple of million copies per release does make the bottom line look black.The fact is MS already has the "simulation" part of FS down pat. There is nothing that comes close to the overall depth of FS. There are little to no costs here. Where there is a gap is polish. Now comes the polish, the "panache".FS 10 WILL be released on PC. It may be released on XBox...I don't know, do you?My 2 cents only,bt

Yes a stock shot photo of Bill Gates and a few words from an unconfirmed reporter with no follow up by any other online sim site like Avsim really doesnt mean much now that I think of it.It did get a lot of us to visit their site thought. Maybe Avsim should bill them for ad space. JK but...Kilstorm

Perhaps it's my suggestion I gave them to give a realistic version for the diehards, and the people using it as a trainer, and a lighter version for those that don't want the hassle of ultra-realism. :-hah----------------------------------------------------------------John MorganReal World: KGEG, UND Aerospace Spokane Satillite, Private ASEL 141.2 hrs, 314 landings, 46 inst. apprs.Virtual: MSFS 2004"There is a feeling about an airport that no other piece of ground can have. No matter what the name of the country on whose land it lies, an airport is a place you can see and touch that leads to a reality that can only be thought and felt." - The Bridge Across Forever: A Love Story by Richard Bach

Does anyone know when FS10 is being released ?:D :D

This gives me the impression the next FS is going to be phenominon leap, like Windows XP was to Windows 98. Let's wait and see.

Orrrrr - like CFS3 was to CFS2? I hold my breath everytime a new FS version is to be released and then I wait for 3 months reading all the ooohs, ahhhs and nits and picks. Then I buy it anyway!FS2000 was pretty much a slide show for most people - FS2004 a vast improvement and "pc friendly" with the slider options provided and add-on clouds. CFS3 had hundreds of "options" to set for various graphics cards and cpu's but is still a dog even on my system:AMD Athlon 4000+ASUS SLI DluxeGeforce 6800 Ultra 256 mbWD 36 GB Raptor2 SATA Seagate 80gbLian Li 6070B case with ducted cpu/gpu exhaustHyundai 8ms 19 inch lcd monitorTrack IR3 Pro with VectorAudio FX headset Changing the FS graphics engine scares me somewhat - although, FS9 is sooooooo good now that I can live with it for a few years!I can't imagine an XBox with yoke, rudders, throttle quandrants, TrackIR with vector, playing on the living room TV! Does it have a connection for a monitor? Well, I'll wait and see. I really hated to lose some of the great add-ons in FS2002 - but with the RealAir Spit, SF260 (updated) and Bill Lyons planes I am a very happy camper err, simmer.Dave Sheridan

I can't imagine an XBox with yoke, rudders, throttle>quandrants, TrackIR with vector, I can. I drive one to work everyday:-boom CheersDan